Jesus loves you and me for who we are; not what we pretend to be. And Jesus denounced hypocrisy vehemently. After mentioning other woes, He compared the Pharisees, leaders in the church, as hypocrites. He said they were like white washed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside they appear to people as righteous, but on the inside are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. He continued by saying they build tombs for prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous saying, “If we had lived in the day of our forefathers, we would have taken part with them in shedding the blood of prophets; so they testify against themselves that they murdered them.”
Then He called then snakes and vipers and asked how they will escape hell. Though they had prophets, wise men and teachers, still they were lost. Then Jesus looked out over the city and said,
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how oft would I have gathered you together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wing, but you would not.” Matthew 23: 37.
We may see some in our congregation who appear to be pretenders, but Jesus taught that we are not to judge others, but as well someone said” We can be fruit inspectors”. And we know a good tree will produce good fruit. However on that tree we may find a rotten one occasionally.
Father, thank you for loving us in spite of our flaws and sins. Forgive any pretense in our lives: because we love You and want to please You. We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
